Voting machine



y 1944- A. N. GUSTAVSON 2,347,824

venue MACHINE Fil ed flee. 19,, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3 1944- A. N.GUSTAVSON 2,347,824 VOTI-NG MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2ias 123 I26 mm y 2, 1944. A. N. GUSTAVSON 2,347,824

VOTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 %F5 4\ 4 I agwue/wtot Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES VOTING MACHINE Alvin N.Gustavson, Bemus Point, N. Y., assignor to Automatic Voting MachineCorporation, Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 19, 1942, Serial No. 469,540 7 9 Claims.

' therefor.

In its presented form, the invention is applied to a voting machinecurtain operating mechanism of the general type disclosed in the A. N.Gustavson Patent No. 2,284,144, dated May 26, 1942. The invention isparticularly adapted to requiring complete movement of a curtain orother enclosure in one direction of travel before movement can beefiected in the opposite direction.

In some instances it has been found that a voter has, through theconnivance or neglect of an election official, been able to cast morethan the single ballot to which he is entitled and without others beingaware of it. As is Well known, a voter on entering the booth of a votingmachine, operates a lever or button that moves a curtain or enclosureinto closed position, this lever being released for such operation bythe machine attendant through manipulation of a control or entranceknob. When a voter has completed his ballot, he is normally expected toactuate the same lever which will, subsequent to actuating registeringand indicator return mechanism, open the curtain. If, however, prior tosuch manipulation, the voter grasps the curtain-0r the cord by which itis moved, or some other movable connection, hemay hold it in closedposition, thus unlocking the machine for the casting of a furtherballot. Of course the entrance knob during such precedure must be in aposition to release the curtain lever.

To prevent such practise, thepresent invention requires the mechanism bywhich the curtain is moved into opened position to have been fullyactuated and in the present disclosure of a curtain actuating mechanismsuch mechanism will ;not complete its cycle if the curtain is held orotherwise prevented from moving into fully open position. Under suchcircumstances, a locking mechanism operates to prevent actuation of thecurtain lever in a manner that would normally again close the curtain.

g The invention has for one of its more particular objects the provisionof a mechanism by which to prevent operation of a curtain actuatingmechanism, if such mechanism has in any way been prevented fromfunctioning in a prescribed manner. I

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a device formanual or motor driven curtain actuating mechanisms which will preventcontinued operation if the cycle of operation is interfered with.

Another andsinore specific object of the invention lies in. theprovision of a means for locking a curtain actuating lever in a givenposition when the curtain actuating mechanism has been unable to movethe curtains into a prescribed position.

Other objects and advantages will be more fully understood from aconsideration of the following specification taken in conjunction withtheaccompanying drawings, and in which Figure 1 is a fragmentaryprospective view of the upper front portion of a voting machine, inwhich is embodied one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the curtain actuating mechanismmounted in the upper part of a voting machine, the position of the partscorresponding to open position of the curtains, being takensubstantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is afront elevational view of the curtain actuating mechanism,operating lever, and lever control, the parts being in curtain openposition;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the position of theparts in curtain closed position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the control mechanismshowing extent of movement from solid line latched position to dottedline unlatched position; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a part of the curtainactuating mechanism when in curtain closed position.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the curtain actuating mechanism with theparts in the position indicated in Fig. 8; V

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational View of a part of the curtainactuating mechanism, showing the operating lever stopped after initialmovement by the lever control.

Reference is now had to the drawings wherein the numeral 10 is employedto generally designate a voting machine in which one modification of theinvention is embodied. The voting machine comprises acabinet H, having avoting keyboard I-Z'on the front wall thereof. Secured to the upperfront corners of the cabinet is a U-shaped-rod l3 from which issuspended a pair of curtains 14, the curtains being by-pa'rting and whenclosed assuming substantially the position shown inFigure 1 of thedrawings and serving to cooperate with the doors l5 to form an enclosurefor a voter.

joined thereto. clock-wise directionicauses the cord 51 to travel in thedirection of the arrows of Figure 2 for the .purpose' ofmovingQthecurtains from opened. to

shaft IS on which is mounted a gear I9. Also mounted on the shaft I8 isa flanged pulley 2|,

the pulley and. gear being integral or joined to rotate as one elementabout the shaft I8. A pin or shaft 22 is carried. by the support I1 andpivotally mounts a cam plate 23. This plate is so mounted as to liewithin the flanged rim of apart plates is a disk I2.

the pulley 2I and is normally urged into engage-- J ment therewith bymeans of a tension spring 24,

one end of which is joinedlttoth'e support I'Ian'd I the other to a pin25 moiifit 'edfon a-portionfof the cam plate 23 remote from its -pivotalsup port 22. The pin 25 also serve sasa contact'lug for another part ofthe mechanism hereinafter described. A further shaft 26 carried by thesupport I'I pivotallymounts a gearsegment-ZI, the teeth 28 of which meshwith'the teeth of the gear I9. Gear segment 21 has an offset arm 29 atthe end of which two pins 3| and 32 are mounted.

j A slidable plate :33 'is'forniedat one end with a slot34. 'A'stud' 36carried 'by the top plate I6, projects through slot 34 and supports oneend of the plate 33. The other end 31 of this plate is formed with'a-slot 39 through which pin .32

' of the gear a'rm'29 projects. Pins 32 and 36 support plate 33 forreciprocal movement limited by the length'of slots34 and 39;

A-bracket 4|, "secured to the side wall'of the cabinet II, supports apin42 that in turn pivfotallymounts"abelll'crankflii. This bell crankfat onelend is pivotally 'joinedto one end of a strap 44.- The other end"of this strap has pivotalconnectionwith 'a' bracket '46 that is secured"to the under face of 'plate'33 adjacent the inner end of slot 3Approximately midway of the ends of the st'rap' ldis a pin 41 to whichone. end

of an" expansion spring QS is "secured. The other end ofthisspringissecur'ed to pin 3I ofthe gear segment arm 29. The other arm ofthe bell crank" 53 is pivotally joined toone end of a link 49.'The'other end'of this link'has pivotal connection with a bracket 5!adjacent the end of a Vertically disposed bar 52. This bar extendsdownwardly along the "side wall "of the cabinet 'I I, beingmoun'ted -in'suitable guides for reciprocation. V

- It will be'noted'that a'double pulley'block 53 is'located adjacent thetopwall I6 of thecabinet.

At corresponding ends of rod "'I3,further'pulleys 54 and56 arelocated.JAn endless cord or belt 51 is provided which, having several turnsabout the pulley 2|, passes throughblocki 53 and 53,

around pulley54 and'back through blocks 56 and 53'to pulley 2I. The'cordadjacent the front "of themachine is thus doubled and the free ends ofthe curtain I4 Tare clamped or otherwise Rotation of the pulley 2I in aclosed position (see Figure 1).. 7

Referring more particularly to FiguresB and whichjs mounted a curtainlever and parts ini-cidenttheifeto. 11 111115 compartment is asupporting frame which includes front {and "rear spouseduringthecurtain'closing operation and delayed response -duringcurtainopening operahorizontally disposed shaft 03. An operating lever 64terminates in one end in a handle 66 and at the other end in forks 61,the spacing of the forks being approximately the diameter of the shaft63. Mounted on the shaft 63 is a hollow rectangular member 69, thatincludes a collar l'I pinned or otherwise secured to the shaft. Arectangular opening extends lengthwise of the member 69 to facilitateentry of the forked end of the lever 64. Beween the spaced This disk ismounted on shaft 63 and is caused to rotate with the lever 64. An armI3, 1ink I4, bell crank I5, furthe'rlink TI and bracket I8 serve toopcrably connectthe "disk 12 with the lower end of bar "52. "Another armI9,.together with link 8|, form apart of the connecting means betweendisk 12 and the voting machine entrance knob.

"Also'included in the structure for actuating the curtain mechanismismeans by which the lever fi t is required to Imovethrough its fulldistance ofitr'avel in one direction before it can be moved in'theopposite direction. This structure includes a Y-shaped member 94,springs 96, T-shapedinefnber 98, ratchet plate-IDI, having teethengageable'with'the teeth'I05'of a gear segment formed on the diSkT'IZ.

The lever 64 'a'ndfassociatedparts, together .with the connections ofthe curtain operating mechanism and the'entranceknob are identical withand'loear the'same reference-numerals as the corresponding "parts of theGustavsonPatent No.--2,284,144, referred to above and for this reasonthis structure has not been described in detail. Inthe operation ofithevotingmachine curtain, it is required that the curtain fully enclose'avoter prior, to the'machine being unlocked for casting a ballot. Alsofollowing casting a ballot;it"isirequiredthatsuch ballot be registered'and' the indicatorsor pointers returned to inoperativeposition" beforethe curtain "moves to open position, uncovers the indicators and allowsthe voter-to leave the'machine. Thus it is necessary that thecurtainxoperatingmechan'ismbe provided with means/for direct retion.

Parts by which this 'curtairrresponse 'is obtainableinclude ajointedstrap I01, the end I08 of whichlis'slott'ed to receive a Pin I09carried' by the plate 11. 'Adjacent'the end "I08, strap I0! is providedwith a laterallydirected finger III. This fing'enisiin'a plane suchthatupon"lengthwise movement of the strap to the extent permittedbylthefsloti through which pin I09 projected,sa'id 'arm'will'contactpin-25 and rotate plate" 23. -Such-rotation of 'the' plate causes ittoidisengagethe'rim'ofi'the pulley 2I against tensi'on'of the'sp'ring24. "Adjacent the joint of the strap I0! is .anjarmII2 which isso Idircted as to liefinithe path of pin32, being movable by'isaid" pmunder 1 circumstances hereinafter "set "out. The 'other'endof 'the strapI01 ispivotally joined'to one arm of a bell crank H3. The other arm ofthis bell'crankhas suitable conneotions'withone arm of a furtherbelIcrank'IIB. The other arm-of bell crank "H6 has pivotal"c'onnectionwith'oneend of a-bar Ill. Theotherend-of the bar II'I is-in-turnpivotally jointed to one-arm of a still further bell crank H8. The otherarm of this bell crank m k W h Qfce'rtainconditions-ofoperation ofthe;-mechaspaced apart plates. These plates supporta "nism'hereinafterdeseribed:is contactedby -link of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 3. it ispointed out' that one end ofbar H4 together with bell cranks H6 and H8and bar 'I I1 are all located Within the compartment 58.

Also located in the compartment 58 is a latch member I2I. This member ismounted upon a pivot pin I22 which is located suiiiciently remote fromthe center of the member to provide definite unbalance thereof. Theshort end I23 of this member including an upstanding fiange I24 which isin the same vertical plane as lug H9. This end of the member alsoincludes an arm I26 that is in the same vertical plane as a pm I 21,located near the periphery of the disk 12.

For a full understanding of the structure, a complete voting cycle isset forth as follows. A voter enters the open booth formed jointly bythe by-parting curtains I4 and the face of the voting machine. Anelection ofiicial operates the entrance knob which, as disclosed in theaforementioned patent, disengages bar 69 from the disk 12 (compareFigures 3 and 4). Such movement of bar 89 permits movement of the lever64 from the position of Figure 3 to that of Figure 4. This lever ismovable only to the extent determined by stops I65 and in the presentshowing moves from left to right in a clockwise direction as viewed bythe drawing. Movement of this lever causes the linkage heretoforedescribed to move plate 33 and, by reason of pin 32 being engaged withthis plate, gear segment 21 is rotated and in turn causes rotation ofgear I9 and pulley 2I. Rotation of pulley 2I, changes the position ofthe cord or cable 51 to the extent that the curtains I4 connectedtherewith are moved to'fully closed position before the lever 64 hasreached the right hand stop I65.

Upon start of movement of the lever 64, in the direction described, pin3I moves in a direction to be out of contact with arm H2. However, thisarm together with jointed strap I61 and connected parts to and includingbell crank H8 also move from the position of Figure 3 to that of Figure4 due to action of a spring I26. Of course the strap I61 has limitedtravel but such travel is sufficient to disengage finger I II from thecam plate 23 (see Figure 6). Also bell crank H8, having rotated todisengage lug H9 from flange I24, the latch member I2I is free to pivotby gravity from the position of Figure 3 to that of Figure 4, a suitableadjustable stop I25 determining the limit of movement of said latchmember, which limit brings arm I26 into the path of travel of the pinI21 of the disk 12.

It is assumed that the voter has indicated his ballot and desires toleave the booth. The lever 64 is moved from right to left and thelinkage connecting this lever with plate 33 functions as alreadydescribed only in a reverse direction. Return movement of the plate 33,however, does not actuate gear segment 21 until pin 32 is engaged by theopposite end of slot 39. During this movement of plate 33, spring 48 hasbeen extended and gear segment 21 is held against rotation by action ofthe cam plate 23. Further movement of the plate 33 is obtained bycompleting movement of the lever 64, that is, into abutment with thestop I65. This final movement of plate 33 causes pin 3| to contact armH2, moving strap I61 in a direction to cause arm II I to engage pin 25and release cam plate 23 from engagement with pulley 2|. Thus the energyof spring 48 may now be readily and quickly transmitted through gearsegment 21 and pulley 2I, to move the cable 51 in a direction contraryto the arrows for the purpose of opening the curtains. I

During movement of strap I61 in a direction to releasecam plate ,23,said strap has also through bars H4, H1 and bell crank H6 rotated bellcrank H8 in a direction to cause lug H9 thereon to rotate latch memberI23 and withdraw arm I26 from the path of pin I21.

arm I26 has been in raised position, pin I 21 has;

contacted and momentarily rotated the latch:

member. However, since this latch member up to this point has not beenheld down by bell crank I I8, contact of pin I21 therewith merelydepresses this latch to the extent of allowing the pin to move just pastarm I26.

The above description of the operation of'the parts has been on theassumption that a voter has followed the correct procedure in enteringthe booth, casting his ballot and opening the curtains. If a voter,however, should attempt to hold the curtain in closed position duringhis movement of the lever 64 from curtain closed to curtain openedposition, he could return the lever 64 to curtain opened position, thatis, from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 3, and such operation ofthis lever would return plate 33 to the position of Fig. 2. During thismovement of the lever 64, stop I61 remains in the position of Fig. 6,and thus cam 23 does not release the pulley for rotation under tensionof the now extended spring 48. As the lever 64 nears the stop I65, thatis, moving from curtain closed to curtain opened position, link 14 movesdownwardly, contacting pin H9 and rotating bell crank H8, together withthe associated linkage to and in cluding strap I61. In other words, thelast bit of travel of lever 64 serves, through link 14, to release thecam 23 when the mechanism is not able to properly operate by movement ofpin 3| into contact with arm H2. Keeping in mind that the curtains areheld in closed position by the voter, the bell crank Ii8'has been movedto tilt the latch member I2! out of the path of pin I21 and thus theparts of the entire structure, with the curtains closed, are in theposition shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the exception that the gearsegment 21 remains in its other extreme position. Now, should a voter,through the connivance of an election ofiicial who controls the entranceor voting lever release knob,

attempt to move lever 64 again into curtain closed position, the initialmovement of this leveraway from stop I65 allows latch member IZI to.tilt upwardly to the position of Fig. 5 into con-.

tact with pin I 21. Although the lever 64 may have started towardcurtain closed position, it. can go no further until the voter hasreleased: his hold of the curtain or curtain control cables; and allowedthe pulley and gear segment to return to the position of Fig. 2.However, upon such actuation of these parts, due to spring 48 thecurtains will open, and it will be apparent to the public, as Well asother election ofiicials, should the voter, through the connivance ofany one ofiicial, attempt to close the curtains and vote a second time.It will of course be understood that the given voter, upon releasing hishold of the curtain cable and allowing the curtains to open, has finallypermitted the normal functioning of the entire mechanism and thus, whenanother voter enters the booth, and the Of course during rotation ofdisk 12 and because,

election official raises the entrance knob, said other voter may enclosehimself by moving the lever. 64,,from'the positionofjFigj3 tothat ofjFig.j4. 5 I m From the foregoing it is evidentthat tlfiehere-v indescribed control. for a curtain] actuator serves to prevent operationthereof jin'an illegal manner andjn theevent anypart ofthej' curthatsuch modifications arecontemplatedash? ing "within thejspirit and scopeof 'f'the' 'invene tion as defined in'the annexed claims. 7

Having thus' set forth myinvention what I claim' as new and for which I,desire protection byLe'ttersPatentis:

"1. In a voting machinehaving a reciprocable mechanism connected withand adapted to op'-' erat'e' a curtain, an actuator operably connectedwith said mechanism, said actuator being operable to repeatedlyreciprocate said mechanism, latch means for securing saidac'tuatoragainst repeated. operation when said mechanismfhas failed to complete agiven reciprocation, and means operably connecting said latch means withsaid mechanism, said latch means being operable, by the icompletion ofsaid given reciprocation of said mechanism, to release said actuator forfurther operation.

2. In a voting machine having a reciprocable mechanism connected withand adapted to operate 'a curtain, an actuator operably connected withs'aidmechanism, said actuator being operable to repeatedly reciprocatesaid mechanism, a latch member movable to an operated position to securesaid actuator against furtheroperation when said mechanism has failed tocomplete a given reciprocation, linkage connecting said latch memberwith said mechanism, said latch member being moved by completereciprocation of said mechanism to an inoperative position with respectto said actuator.

3. In a voting'machine having a curtain for enclosing avoter, amechanism connectedwith and operable to move said curtain into either oftwo positions, means for actuatingsaid mechanism, further means operableto secure theactm ating means against a repeated operation, said furthermeans having operative connection with said mechanism, said mechanism,in response to of said positions, operating said latch means to releaseand permit. further functioning of'said reciprocable means,

mechanis connectedlwith andjadapted to; opferate a curtain, an actuator,operably connected with said mechanism, latchmean's mo'vable to rendersaid mechanism inoperative, means co'nnecting said latch means withsaidmechanism; said mechanism, when actuated by movement of said actuatorinone direction, 'efiectingmovement of'said latch means to release saidactuator;

'6."In a voting machine'having a curtain for enclosing. ajvoter' and amechanism operable to move said curtain into open or closed position,

an actuator operably connected with saidmecha-f nism, means providingsuccessive delayed and direct response'of' said mechanism to operationof; said actuator, latch means operable'to secure said actuatoragainstmovement eifective on said mechanism following movement of saidactuator,

in a direction to give delayed response of, said mechanism, and'meansoperable on said latch means to release saidactuator, saidmean's beingactuated by movement of said actuator' in its direction of delayedresponse.

'7. In a voting machine having areciprocable mechanism, an actuatoroperably connected .with said mechanism, means providing successive as:layed and direct response of ,said mechanism to' operation of saidactuator, a latch member for said actuator, said member, in oneposition, se-' curing said actuator against operation in a man ner toeffectdirect response of said mechanism, and means operable, by thedelayed movement of said mechanism, to move said'member into a positionto release said actuator. to effect direct response of said mechanism.

8. In a voting machine having a reciprocable mechanism, an actuatoroperably connected with said mechanism, means providing successivedelayed and direct response of said'mechanism to operation of saidactuator, a latch member normally occupying a position to engage andsecure said actuatorfagainst operation in a direction to.

' direction of its delayed response.

the actuating means, operating said further 9. In a, voting machinehaving a curtain for enclosing a voter, am'echanism connected with andoperable to "move said curtain into open or. closed position, anactuator for said mechanism,

meansconnecting' said actuator with said mechanism in a manner toprovide directres p onse in a direction to closethecurtainand delayedresponse in a direction to open the curtain, a latch, member normallyoccupying a position to engage and secure said actuator againstoperation in a manner to'close the curtain before said mechanism hasfunctioned to open the curtain, linkage, connected with said mechanismand operable thereby, during operation of said mechanism to open thecurtain, to engage andadjust said latch member into a position torelease said actuator for operation in a manner to close the curtain.

.N. GUSTAVSON.

5: In; a'fvoting' machine having .a reciprocable

